Zuckerberg calls Obama to protest NSA

Mar. 13, 2014
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Mark Zuckerberg / LLUIS GENE, AFP/Getty Images

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

President Obama, who has taken heat over National Security Agency surveillance programs, heard this week from a prominent billionaire critic: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg said he called Obama in the wake of reports that the NSA has infected millions of computers with malware and is impersonating U.S. social media and other websites.

While NSA officials have denied the reports, Zuckerberg wrote that "I've called President Obama to express my frustration over the damage the government is creating for all of our future. Unfortunately, it seems like it will take a very long time for true full reform."

He also wrote: "The US government should be the champion for the internet, not a threat. They need to be much more transparent about what they're doing, or otherwise people will believe the worst."

The White House confirmed that Obama spoke with Zuckerberg on Wednesday night.

In a statement, the NSA said that recent reports "are inaccurate," and that "NSA uses its technical capabilities only to support lawful and appropriate foreign intelligence operations, all of which must be carried out in strict accordance with its authorities."